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Lance Cpl. John Saunier, rifleman, Company F, Anti-Terrorism Battalion, attached to 2nd Marine Division, takes point during a patrol while undergoing a training exercise to recapture an embassy building aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Aug. 4, 2011. Because of the wide spectrum of demands that may be made of the battalion during its deployment, the Marines’ training covers a large variety of techniques and tactics ranging from Military Operations on Urban Terrain, extractions and convoys, to non-lethal methods, riot control and non-combatant evacuation operations. - Lance Cpl. John Saunier, rifleman, Company F, Anti-Terrorism Battalion, attached to 2nd Marine Division, takes point during a patrol while undergoing a training exercise to recapture an embassy building aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Aug. 4, 2011. Because of the wide spectrum of demands that may be made of the battalion during its deployment, the Marines’ training covers a large variety of techniques and tactics ranging from Military Operations on Urban Terrain, extractions and convoys, to non-lethal methods, riot control and non-combatant evacuation operations.

Marines with 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment mess around in sumo wrestling suits during their unit's Family Day aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. Aug. 5, 2011. “These guys just got back from Afghanistan said Katy Weeks, family readiness officer, 1/10. “Two batteries were in the field and just got back. This is the first time everybody has gotten to just kick back and relax.” ::r::::n:: ::r::::n:: - Marines with 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment mess around in sumo wrestling suits during their unit's Family Day aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. Aug. 5, 2011. “These guys just got back from Afghanistan said Katy Weeks, family readiness officer, 1/10. “Two batteries were in the field and just got back. This is the first time everybody has gotten to just kick back and relax.” ::r::::n:: ::r::::n::

Marines with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, return to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 6, 2011, after a seven month deployment to Helmand province in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Families, friends and service members anxiously gathered Saturday morning, despite rain and clouds, to welcome home their loved ones. - Marines with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, return to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 6, 2011, after a seven month deployment to Helmand province in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Families, friends and service members anxiously gathered Saturday morning, despite rain and clouds, to welcome home their loved ones.

(left to right) Sgt. Maj. Gene Overstreet, 12th Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps, President of the Non-Commissioned Officer Association, Collin L. Younger, Shelia Frazier, and Sgt. Maj. Lee Bonar, Manpower Management Division, Headquarters of the Marine Corps, stand with Sgt. Gil C. Frazier, squad leader for 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division after he received the Vanguard Award for his heroic actions during his deployment to Marjah, Afghanistan. - (left to right) Sgt. Maj. Gene Overstreet, 12th Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps, President of the Non-Commissioned Officer Association, Collin L. Younger, Shelia Frazier, and Sgt. Maj. Lee Bonar, Manpower Management Division, Headquarters of the Marine Corps, stand with Sgt. Gil C. Frazier, squad leader for 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division after he received the Vanguard Award for his heroic actions during his deployment to Marjah, Afghanistan.

The culmination of almost four months of hard work finally paid off when the Hall of Heroes was officially opened during a ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., August 8, 2011. The wall of photographs was created to honor all 133 Marines and sailors from the 2nd Marine Division who gave their lives during Operation Enduring Freedom. - The culmination of almost four months of hard work finally paid off when the Hall of Heroes was officially opened during a ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., August 8, 2011. The wall of photographs was created to honor all 133 Marines and sailors from the 2nd Marine Division who gave their lives during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Zachary Shuster records confirmed data before and after each round is fired from a M777 howitzer aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, August 4, 2011. Shuster and the other Marines of Battery S, 5th Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division endured the heat, humidity and rain storms of the field exercise conducted August 2-5. - Lance Cpl. Zachary Shuster records confirmed data before and after each round is fired from a M777 howitzer aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, August 4, 2011. Shuster and the other Marines of Battery S, 5th Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division endured the heat, humidity and rain storms of the field exercise conducted August 2-5.

Marines with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, ready themselves to enter the water in their amphibious assault vehicle during amphibious training operations aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., August 4, 2011. The Marines train each year to brush up on their old techniques and tactics, as well as learn new ones. During this operation, the Marines had the cooperation of USS Ponce, an Austin-Class amphibious transport dock, and USS Oak Hill, a Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship. After launching from the beach, the Marines boarded the ship with the help of their vehicles. - Marines with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, ready themselves to enter the water in their amphibious assault vehicle during amphibious training operations aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., August 4, 2011. The Marines train each year to brush up on their old techniques and tactics, as well as learn new ones. During this operation, the Marines had the cooperation of USS Ponce, an Austin-Class amphibious transport dock, and USS Oak Hill, a Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship. After launching from the beach, the Marines boarded the ship with the help of their vehicles.

Macon, Ga., native Sgt. Stephen M. Smith, the armory maintenance chief for 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, is a left leg, below-the-knee amputee. He survived an Improvised Explosive Device blast in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006, but didn’t let it stop him from being a Marine. He re-enlisted as an armorer after recovering from his injury, and requested to be deployed to Afghanistan. - Macon, Ga., native Sgt. Stephen M. Smith, the armory maintenance chief for 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, is a left leg, below-the-knee amputee. He survived an Improvised Explosive Device blast in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006, but didn’t let it stop him from being a Marine. He re-enlisted as an armorer after recovering from his injury, and requested to be deployed to Afghanistan.

Honolulu, native Petty Officer 1st Class Flo Baltazar (center), a civil engineer corps chief, walks through the construction site of Sangin High School during a recent visit. Baltazar is responsible for inspecting the integrity and quality of the school throughout its construction. - Honolulu, native Petty Officer 1st Class Flo Baltazar (center), a civil engineer corps chief, walks through the construction site of Sangin High School during a recent visit. Baltazar is responsible for inspecting the integrity and quality of the school throughout its construction.

Pittsburgh native Cpl. Zachary Beamer, an assaultman with the Personal Security Detachment of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, recently survived an Improvised Explosive Device blast while on patrol. Beamer was hit with shrapnel in his left arm and torso, but was back with his unit in two weeks. - Pittsburgh native Cpl. Zachary Beamer, an assaultman with the Personal Security Detachment of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, recently survived an Improvised Explosive Device blast while on patrol. Beamer was hit with shrapnel in his left arm and torso, but was back with his unit in two weeks.